Combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment

ABSTRACT

A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment. The cigarette package holder is formed of a generally elongate container whose dimensions are such that a package of cigarettes can be held therein. The ashtray compartment is formed of a similar shaped elongate container having a common side wall with the cigarette package holder. An external bracket is formed on one of the outer walls for holding a book of matches. The ashtray compartment includes a shelf in which is mounted a screen at the bottom of a tubular device for extinguishing lit cigarettes. A slidably removable receptacle enables removal of ashes from the bottom of the ashtray compartment. The ashtray compartment also includes a lockable cover to prevent ash spillage.

United States Patent 1 Baclit 1 1 COMBINED CIGARETTE PACKAGE HOLDER AND ASHTRAY COMPARTMENT [76] Inventor: Paul S. Baclit, 2167 College View Dr, Monterey Park, Calif. 91754 22 Filed: Oct. 10, 1973 [21] Appl, No: 405,193

[52] US. Cl 131/235 R; 131/239; 206/246 [51] Int. Cl A24f 15/10; A24f 19/14 [58] Field of Search 131/235 R, 241, 256, 238,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,436,316 11/1922 Koenig 131/239 1,780,591 11/1930 lizuka 131/239 X 1,902,388 3/1933 Welch 206/38 CX 1,912,598 6/1933 Snadden 131/242 X 1,928,972 10/1933 Elliott 206/249 1,931,068 10/1933 Evcrhart et a1. l3l/235 R 1,949,165 2/1934 Krieger 206/249 X 2,418,188 4/1947 Nixon, Jr. 206/38 C 3,024,902 3/1962 June 10, 1975 Dunn 131/235 RX Kirby 131 235 R [57] ABSTRACT A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment. The cigarette package holder is formed of a generally elongate container whose dimensions are such that a package of cigarettes can be held therein. The ashtray compartment is formed of a similar shaped elongate container having a common side wall with the cigarette package holder. An external bracket is formed on one of the outer walls for holding a book of matches. The ashtray compartment includes a shelf in which is mounted a screen at the bottom of a tubular device for extinguishing lit cigarettes. A slidably removable receptacle enables removal of ashes from the bottom of the ashtray compartment. The ashtray compartment also includes a lockable cover to prevent ash spillage.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 COMBINED CIGARETTE PACKAGE OLDER AND ASIITRAY COMPARTMENE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of art to which the invention pertains includes the field of smoking accessories, particularly with respect to a combined cigarette package holder and ashtray.

Smokers may occasionally find that there is no ashtray available for either disposing of ashes or extinguishing a lit cigarette. Fire and safety regulations, as well as aesthetic reasons, may prevent a person from extinguishing a cigarette on the floor when there are no ashtrays available. Environmental regulations may also make it desirable for a person who is smoking to carry a portable ashtray.

The present invention provides a cigarette package holder having an ashtray compartment. The cigarette package holder section has dimensions sufficient to hold a conventional type cigarette package. Separate sized packages may be made for persons who smoke either regular or king size type cigarettes. An ashtray which is integrally formed with the cigarette package holder enables ashes from a cigarette to be stored until emptied. A cigarette extinguishing receptacle can also be provided in the ashtray compartment.

Particularly, the cigarette package holder comprises an elongate container defined by a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls and a top and bottom wall. The ashtray compartment comprises a second elongate container which shares a common side wall and has similar height and width dimensions as the cigarette package holder. The top wall of the ashtray compartment is formed of a lockable lid which opens to deposit ashes therein. A removable receptacle is adjacent the bottom wall of the ashtray compartment enabling the removal of ashes.

The advantages of this invention, both as to its construction and mode of operation, will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combined cigarette package holder and ashtray in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combined cigarette package holder and ashtray when viewed from the rear thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective partially broken away view of the cigarette holder of FIG. 1 illustrating the various components thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a side partial sectional view of the combined cigarette package holder and ashtray taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a combined cigarette package holder I2 and ashtray compartment I3 constructed in accordance with principles of the invention. The cigarette package holder I2 is defined by a first container whose outer dimensions enable a three-dimensional rectangular box, such as a conventional package of cigarettes 14, (shown in dotted lines in FIG. I) to be inserted therein. The cigarette package holder 12 includes a top wall 16, a portion of which has been removed, enabling access to cigarettes in the package 14.

A first outer side wall 18 of the cigarette package holder has a portion removed along an aesthetic line 22 in a fanciful manner. The cigarette package holder I2 further comprises a bottom wall 24 and a first end wall 26. An aperture 28 is equal in size and directly opposite to the outer perimeter of the end wall 26 which enables the cigarette package 14 to be inserted into the cigarette package holder 12. It should be noted that the container dimensions of the cigarette package holder 12 can be made of differing sizes enabling regular sized cigarettes, king size cigarettes or other sized cigarette packages to be inserted.

As can be seen in greater detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end wall 26 has a portion thereof cut away to define an oval slot 36. The oval slot enables a user to insert a finger or tool into the slot and remove the cigarette package I4 from the cigarette package holder 12.

The cigarette package holder 12 further comprises an interior side wall 32. The side wall 32 forms a common interior side wall with the side wall of the ashtray compartment 13. As seen in FIG. 3, the ashtray compartment I3 is defined by a first end wall 42, a second end wall 44, an outer side wall 46 and the common interior side wall 32 of the cigarette package holder compartment I2. The ashtray compartment also contains a bottom wall 48 and a top cover 52 which is hinged adjacent the common interior side wall 32 and has a dimen sion slightly greater than an opening 54 formed at the top of the ashtray compartment. The opening 54 is defined by the top edge of the outer side wall 46, the common interior side wall 32, and the first and second end walls 42 and 44 of the ashtray compartment. As can be seen in FIG. 4, a downwardly facing lip 56 of the top cover 52 has an inner surface which is juxtaposed with the outer surface of the outer side wall 46 when the cover is closed. The lip 56 inner surface contains a first protrusion 58 enabling the cover 52 to close as illustrated in FIGS. I and 2, and lock with a second protrusion 62 formed on the outer surface of the outer side wall 46.

A generally U-shaped cross-section depository holder 72 is positioned within the ashtray compartment 13. The depository holder 72 extends down from the top opening 54 of the ashtray compartment. The depository holder 72 is defined by a pair of side walls 74 and 76 which are juxtaposed with and secured to the interior surfaces of the ashtray compartment side walls 46 and 32, respectively. Typically, the side walls 74 and 76 are glued within the ashtray compartment. A bottom wall 78 interconnects the side walls 74 and 76 and contains an aperture 82 adjacent the second end wall 44. A metallic cylinder 84 surrounds the aperture 82 and extends upwardly from the bottom wall 78 to just below the opening 54 in the ashtray compartment. The aperture 82 contains a metal screen 86 for extinguishing the lit end of a cigarette and allows ashes from a cigarette to drop to the bottom of the ashtray compartment.

The depository holder 72 extends from the end wall 44 slightly more than half the distance across the opening 54 in the ashtray compartment. The user can deposit ashes in the ashtray compartment which normally would drop to the bottom of the compartment. Positioned adjacent the bottom of the ashtray compartment is a removable receptacle 92. The receptacle 92 is generally U-shaped in cross-sectional configuration and extends across the entire width of the bottom of the ashtray compartment. An opening 94 in the end wall 42 of the ashtray compartment enables the ashtray container 92 to be removed by tugging at a handle 96 centrally formed in the end wall 98 of the compartment. The end wall 98 is flush with the end wall 42 when the receptacle 92 is within the ashtray compartment.

The receptacle 92 is slidably movable in and out of the ashtray compartment along a pair of keyways 102 and 104 which are formed on the outer surfaces of the side wall 106 and 108 of the receptacle 92. The receptacle which is generally Ushaped in configuration also contains a bottom wall 112 which interconnects the side walls 106 and 108. An end wall 114 joins the side walls 106 and 108 at one end of the ashtray container with the wall 98 joining the side walls 106 and 108 at the other end thereof. The keyways 102 and 104 mate with keys 122 and 124 formed on the interior surface of the side walls 32 and 46, respectively.

A matchbook holder, formed ofa generally U-shaped upper loop 132 and a shelf 134, is formed on the outer surface of the side wall 46 of the ashtray container. The shelf 134 enables the bottom portion of the matchbook 136 (shown in FIG. 3) to be fitted therein whereas the U-shaped configuration of the loop 132 enables the cover of the matchbook 136 to be slipped therethrough.

I claim:

1. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment comprising:

a cigarette package holder defining a first elongate container whose dimensions are sufficient for placing a package of cigarettes therein, said container being defined by a first side wall and a second side wall spaced from one side of said first side wall to approximate the width of a package of cigarettes. an end wall, a top wall and a bottom wall;

an ashtray compartment of similar height and width dimensions as said cigarette package holder and defined as shallower than said package holder by a side wall spaced from the other side of said first side wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and first and second spaced end walls the top wall of said ashtray compartment including a lockable lid which can be adjusted for placing ashes therein and a shelf in said ashtray compartment adjacent said movable lid and spaced downwardly therefrom, screen material therein defining openings therethrough and a tubular depository carried on said shelf around said screen material, for enabling lit cigarettes to be extinguished.

2. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said ashtray compartment end walls is formed with an opening adjacent said ashtray compartment bottom wall; and

a removable receptacle in said ashtray compartment end wall opening adjacent the bottom wall of said compartment and defined as shallower than said ashtray compartment by a pair of opposed side walls, a bottom wall and spaced opposed end walls.

3. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said top and bottom walls and said second side wall of said cigarette package holder are at least partially removed enabling access to cigarettes and said ciga rette package.

4. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment in accordance with claim 3 wherein said end wall of said cigarette package holder has an opening therein enabling said cigarette package to be displaced from said cigarette package holder.

5. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising loop means positioned on the outer surface of one of said side walls for mounting a package of matches thereon. 1 l 1 

1. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment comprising: a cigarette package holder defining a first elongate container whose dimensions are sufficient for placing a package of cigarettes therein, said container being defined by a first side wall and a second side wall spaced from one side of said first side wall to approximate the width of a package of cigarettes, an end wall, a top wall and a bottom wall; an ashtray compartment of similar height and width dimensions as said cigarette package holder and defined as shallower than said package holder by a side wall spaced from the other side of said first side wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and first and second spaced end walls the top wall of said ashtray compartment including a lockable lid which can be adjusted for placing ashes therein and a shelf in said ashtray compartment adjacent said movable lid and spaced downwardly therefrom, screen material therein defining openings therethrough and a tubular depository carried on said shelf around said screen material, for enabling lit cigarettes to be extinguished.
 2. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said ashtray compartment end walls is formed with an opening adjacent said ashtray compartment bottom wall; and a removable receptacle in said ashtray compartment end wall opening adjacent the bottom wall of said compartment and defined as shallower than said ashtray compartment by a pair of opposed side walls, a bottom wall and spaced opposed end walls.
 3. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment in accordance with claim 1 wherein one of said top and bottom walls and said second side wall of said cigarette package holder are at least partially removed enabling access to cigarettes and said cigarette package.
 4. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray compartment in accordance with claim 3 wherein said end wall of said cigarette package holder has an opening therein enabling said cigarette package to be displaced from said cigarette package holder.
 5. A combined cigarette package holder and ashtray in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising loop means positioned on the outer surface of one of said side walls for mounting a package of matches thereon. 